I will start this post with a question
What are you avoiding that you know would benefit you in your life?
Within my own experience as a transformational coach I have heard from clients in how they are resisting moving forward in certain areas and yet will happily do so in other aspects of their life that may not have such an impact.
Procrastination is not a unique dilemma and it causes many people a lot of frustration
The question is
Why do people procrastinate?
This could bring about a variety of answers and of course will be contextual to the individual coming to you for coaching and help. I will share my thoughts here and would love to hear your comments and for you to share your own experience on this subject.
Firstly I believe that procrastination goes somewhat deeper than we might first assume.
Why would people avoid doing what they often know would move them forward, create positive change and help shape their futures in transformational ways.
There could be number of reasons
Fear
Fear of being caught out, judged, reprimanded, told off for doing a bad job ,being anything less than perfect, being vulnerable and so much more.
Quite often these are childhood scripts and belief systems that have been picked up and added to in our own development.
Maybe a script of being perfect, don’t be seen or don’t be successful could be playing out which underlies the stuck feelings and procrastination.
Enjoyment
I think that people will generally (and this is a generalisation) spend time doing what they enjoy, what is easiest and what does not raise an emotional reaction from them.
Why would people spend time doing something they don’t want to and raises uncomfortable feelings? – whatever the reason.
Pay offs
When people don’t change and keep themselves where they are, what could they be gaining from this?
Although the behaviour / action or lack of action is not serving people on a conscious level it may well be serving them on a more subconscious platform.
They are possibly getting something from “not doing”
Sometimes people’s values are also beneath the surface or their procrastination.
For example you have a person – lets call him Mr Jones (keeping it simple) who knows that he would love to give a public speech on a topic close to his heart and in fact has the opportunity to do so.
A large audience would be there to see him, a guaranteed coverage from a well known tabloid and an opening of doors that would enhance his career and general financial state.
And yet Mr Jones leaves the preparation until the last minute, he does everything else that won’t help (watching catch up tv, going on the Internet, re arranging his furnishings, talking to his cat) and generally avoiding!
What he might be getting is a feeling of being safe, built into this is fear of “making a mistake” and being seen to “not be good at his job”.. That is far worse in his mind.
The end result is that Mr Jones avoids doing the necessary work involved or leaves it to the last minute – when the pressure is on …
The adrenaline is pumping and he is putting “himself” under pressure. It could also be a sense of control. The end result is not 100% tangible and can not yet be seen or felt.
Why would people trust in something that has no certain outcome? I believe that trust plays a large part in why people stop themselves moving forward.
Lack of trust in others, lack of trust in themselves.
After all who can they rely on?
I will also briefly introduce the self saboteur.
The person who will create drama and anguish for themselves , where in fact there is none.
I have often seen how people before a big event will stay up late, go out drinking, get tired, get unwell and will cancel at the last minute to avoid being seen or ….(fill in the gap)
There are many reasons why people procrastinate…I would like you to question your own motives and of course bring this into alignment to the clients you work with.
Get beneath procrastination not beaten by it. Do share your own stories and comments below.
